Scoliosis brace

Abstract

A brace comprises a belt and removably attachable vertical strut(s). Each vertical strut can comprise one or more of a strut(s), thoracic pad(s), hip pad(s), lumbar support pad(s), chest support pad(s), de-rotation pad(s), or any other component suitable to assist or restrict movement of a wearer's body, reduce or apply a force to a wearer's body, correct the shape of a wearer's body, reduce pain, or provide support to a wearer's body. It is contemplated that each component can be removable or adjustable from a vertical strut or belt.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A scoliosis brace for a wearer's body, comprising:
 a flexible belt configured to wrap entirely around a trunk portion of the wearer's body having an inner surface comprising a first hook or loop fastener; 
 a first vertical strut comprising an upper pad, a lower pad, and a base pad having an outer surface portion that includes a second hook or loop fastener,
 wherein the first vertical strut can be removably attached to the inner surface of the belt via the first and second hook or loop fasteners at either a first position and removably attached to the inner surface of the belt via the first and second hook or loop fasteners at a second position different from the first position, and 
 wherein the upper pad, the lower pad, and the base pad are discrete pads coupled by rigid connectors, 
 the rigid connectors being sandwiched directly between the first hook or loop fastener and the second hook or loop fastener; 
 
 wherein the brace is configured such that, when the brace is worn on the wearer's body when the wearer's body is upright:
 the upper pad is vertically above the base pad and the lower pad is vertically below the base pad, 
 the upper pad applies a first force to a first side of a ribcage of the wearer's body from a first side of the wearer's body to a second side of the wearer's body along a coronal plane, 
 the lower pad applies a second force to a first side of a hip of the wearer's body from the first side of the wearer's body to the second side of the wearer's body along the coronal plane, and 
 the flexible belt applies a third force to the second side of the wearer's body between the ribcage and the iliac crest of the wearer's body opposite the first force and the second force, from the second side of the wearer's body to the first side of the wearer's body along the coronal plane. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The scoliosis brace of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a second base pad and a second vertical strut that can be removably coupled to the inner surface of the belt at a third position such that the belt applies the third force to the second side of the wearer's body through the at least one of the second base pad and the second vertical strut when the brace is worn. 
     
     
       3. The scoliosis brace of  claim 2 , wherein the belt substantially equates the first force and the second force with the third force when the brace is worn. 
     
     
       4. The scoliosis brace of  claim 1 , wherein a major face of the upper pad is configured to apply the first force to the ribcage of the wearer at least two inches below an underarm of the wearer, wherein the major face of the upper pad comprises a surface of the upper pad having a larger surface area than at least one other face of the upper pad. 
     
     
       5. The scoliosis brace of  claim 4 , wherein the major face of the upper pad is tilted upwards, and wherein the first force also comprises an upward force configured to be applied to an underside of the ribcage of the wearer's body from a foot of the wearer's body to a head of the wearer's body when the wearer's body is upright. 
     
     
       6. The scoliosis brace of  claim 1 , wherein a location of where the first vertical strut attaches to the inner surface of the belt is configured to at least partially determine a distribution of forces between the first force, the second force, and the third force. 
     
     
       7. The scoliosis brace of  claim 1 , wherein the base pad is configured to contact the wearer's body when the brace is worn, and wherein the brace is further configured to restrict a motion of the wearer's body along a sagittal plane and a transverse plane when the brace is worn. 
     
     
       8. The scoliosis brace of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the first vertical strut is adjustable between at least one of (a) the upper pad and the base pad, and (b) the lower pad and the base pad. 
     
     
       9. The scoliosis brace of  claim 1 , further comprising a first tension strap that extends from the first vertical strut to the flexible belt at a position anterior to the first vertical strut. 
     
     
       10. A scoliosis brace of  claim 1 , wherein the first side is the left or right side of the wearer's body, and wherein the base pad is configured to be positioned between the rib cage and the iliac crest of the wearer's body when the brace is worn. 
     
     
       11. The scoliosis brace of  claim 1 , wherein a rigid portion of the upper pad is sized and disposed to at least partially wrap around both an anterior portion and a posterior portion of the ribcage of the wearer. 
     
     
       12. The scoliosis brace of  claim 1 , wherein any rigid horizontal width of the first vertical strut between the base pad and the lower pad or the upper pad is less than at least one of any rigid horizontal width of the base pad and any rigid horizontal width of the lower pad or upper pad. 
     
     
       13. A customizable scoliosis brace, comprising:
 a flexible belt adjustably wrappable around a trunk portion of a wearer's body, the flexible belt including a tightening system that allows a user to adjust a tightness of the belt on the wearer's body when the flexible belt is wrapped around the trunk portion; 
 a vertical strut comprising an upper pad, a lower pad and an anchor pad,
 wherein the upper pad, lower pad, and anchor pad are discrete pads coupled by rigid connectors, 
 wherein the vertical strut is removably coupleable to an inner surface of the belt at more than one different location via a hook and loop fastener, 
 wherein the hook and loop fastener comprises a first hook or loop material on an outer portion of the anchor pad and a second hook or loop material on the inner surface of the belt, 
 the rigid connectors being sandwiched directly between the first hook or loop material and the second hook or loop material; and 
 
 wherein when the scoliosis brace is worn on an upright wearer:
 the upper pad is vertically above the anchor pad and the lower pad is vertically below the anchor pad; 
 the upper pad is configured to be positioned above the belt and the lower pad is configured to be positioned below the belt at a hip of the wearer's body; 
 the upper and lower pads are configured to apply a first force to a left or right side of the wearer's body and to restrict a motion of the wearer's body along a coronal plane; and 
 the flexible belt is configured to apply a second force to a second side of the wearer's body opposite the first force; and 
 wherein the vertical strut is configured such that the vertical strut can be entirely supported by the flexible belt. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The scoliosis brace of  claim 13 , wherein the tightening system includes a first cord that sinuously engages cord guide lobes of first and second cord guides, and is configured to shorten a distance between first and second cord guides when pulled in a first direction. 
     
     
       15. The scoliosis brace of  claim 14 , wherein the tightening system further comprises a second cord, and wherein the tightening system can be used to tighten the belt by pulling the first cord in the first direction and pulling the second cord in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
       16. The scoliosis brace of  claim 13 , wherein the tightening system includes a pulley system. 
     
     
       17. The scoliosis brace of  claim 13 , wherein a height adjustment mechanism is configured to allow the user to adjust a distance between the upper pad and the anchor pad. 
     
     
       18. The scoliosis brace of  claim 13 , wherein the vertical strut further comprises an angle adjustment mechanism configured to allow the user to adjust an angle of the vertical strut between the first pad and the second pad, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism comprises a first strut piece and a second strut piece coupled to one another such that the first strut piece is configured to rotate relative to the second strut piece. 
     
     
       19. The scoliosis brace of  claim 13 , wherein when the brace is worn, the more than one different locations on the inner surface of the flexible belt are positioned on the left or right side of the wearer. 
     
     
       20. A scoliosis brace for a wearer, comprising:
 a flexible belt configured to wrap entirely around a trunk portion of the wearer; 
 a first vertical strut including a base portion, a top portion and a bottom portion,
 wherein the base portion, top portion, and bottom portion are discrete pads coupled by rigid connectors, 
 wherein the base portion is configured such that it can be removably attached to an inner surface of the flexible belt in two different places along a length of the flexible belt via a hook and loop fastener such that the top portion extends above the belt and the bottom portion extends below the belt, 
 wherein the hook and loop fastener comprises a first hook or loop material positioned on the inner surface of the flexible belt, and a second hook or loop material positioned on an outer surface of the base portion, 
 the rigid connectors being sandwiched directly between the first hook or loop material and the second hook or loop material; and 
 
 wherein when the brace is worn on the wearer when the wearer is upright:
 the top portion is vertically above the base portion and the bottom portion is vertically below the base portion; 
 the first vertical strut is configured such that it can be positioned entirely on a left or right side of the wearer; 
 the top portion and bottom portion are configured such that they both apply a first force to the left or right side of the wearer; 
 the flexible belt is configured such that it applies a second force opposite to the first force relative to the wearer; and 
 the first vertical strut is configured such that it can restrict the wearer's motion along a coronal plane. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The scoliosis brace of  claim 20 , further comprising a second vertical strut configured such that it can be positioned entirely on a second side of the wearer opposite the left or right side when the brace is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
       22. The scoliosis brace of  claim 20 , wherein the brace is further configured such that it can restrict the wearer's motion along at least one of a sagittal plane and a transverse plane when the brace is worn. 
     
     
       23. The scoliosis brace of  claim 20 , wherein the flexible belt substantially maintains a vertical position of the top portion and the bottom portion when the scoliosis brace is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
       24. The scoliosis brace of  claim 20 , further comprising a first tension strap that extends from the first vertical strut to the flexible belt at a position anterior to the first vertical strut. 
     
     
       25. The scoliosis brace of  claim 20 , wherein the first vertical strut further comprises a rounded arm configured to wrap around a chest of the wearer when the brace is worn. 
     
     
       26. The scoliosis brace of  claim 20 , wherein a length of the first vertical strut is adjustable between each of (a) the top portion and the base portion, and (b) the bottom portion and the base portion. 
     
     
       27. The scoliosis brace of  claim 20 , wherein the top portion includes a first pad, wherein the bottom portion includes a hip pad, and wherein the base portion, the first pad and the hip pad comprise separate pieces of material. 
     
     
       28. The scoliosis brace of  claim 20 , wherein the first vertical strut further comprises an angle adjustment mechanism configured to allow a user to adjust an angle of the vertical strut between the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the angle adjustment mechanism comprises a first strut piece and a second strut piece coupled to one another such that the first strut piece is configured to rotate relative to the second strut piece. 
     
     
       29. The scoliosis brace of  claim 20 , wherein the flexible belt comprises a tightening mechanism including a first cord that sinuously engages cord guide lobes of first and second cord guides, and is configured to shorten a distance between first and second cord guides when pulled in a first direction.